FACTS FOR FANCY FRUITS 96-07    
 May 21, 1996
 
 ****************************************************
 Facts for Fancy Fruit is a newsletter for commercial and advanced amateur fruit
  growers developed in the Purdue University Department of Horticulture with
  regular contributions from the specialists in the Departments of Entomology and
  Botany and Plant Pathology, and from other agents & specialists on campus.  If
  you have questions, or are are interested in receiving this newsletter
  electronically, contact Bruce Bordelon (bb@hort.purdue.edu).
 ****************************************************
 Crop Conditions
 Weather
 Eastern Flower Thrips on Strawberries
 Apple Scab & Collar Rot
 Fire Blight
 Disease Monitoring
 Managing Summer Diseases
 Early Season Grape Disease Control
 Water Sprouts on Tree Fruit
 Fruit Tree Care
 Indiana Winegrowers Guild Summer Meeting and Grape Workshop
 Ohio State University Horticulture Field Day
 Illinois State Horticultural Society Summer Horticulture Field Day
 Facts for Fancy Fruit Available Electronically
 Coming Meetings/Events
   
 ****************************************************
 Crop Conditions:  Apples are at first to second cover in the south, petal fall
  to first cover throughout central part of the state, and at full bloom in
  northern areas.  Grapes have 6 to 10 inch shoots in the south, 3 to 5 inch
  shoots in central, and 1 inch shoots northern areas.  Strawberries are in petal
  fall in the south, and early to full bloom in central and northern areas. 
  Blueberries are at full bloom in the north.  Record cold on May 13 hurt
  blueberries on a few farms in low areas but slow development saved most of the
  crop.  Some winter damage is showing up now with buds breaking.  What were
  thought to be fruit buds are leaf buds. Some shucking of buds and stem death is
  being observed, probably due to the sharp temperature drop in November after a
  mild October. Most fruit crops are still about 10 days behind normal, but may
  catch up quickly if the warm weather persists.  
 
 Weather:  (From Purdue Crop and Weather meeting Minutes, May 17) During the
  period of May 10 - 16 very heavy rainfall was experienced over most sections of
  the state with the northern third of the state averaging 3" above normal while
  the central and southern third averaged between 1" and 2" above normal.
 
 Weather Outlook:  (From Purdue Crop and Weather Meeting minutes, May 17 - Tom
  Priddy, University of Kentucky) Isolated thunderstorms will continue to occur,
  particularly in the northern section of the state through the weekend.  Most of
  the state will appreciate some periods of sunshine and warmer temperatures as
  well.  Low pressure similar to last weeks pattern will drop southward late
  Monday and into Tuesday bringing cooler, wetter weather back into the state. 
  The pattern which we have been experiencing will then re-establish itself
  bringing the threat of heavier rains and cooler weather once again. 
  Temperatures in this period will range between the low 60's and mid 70's.  The
  6-10 day forecast calls for continued cool, wet weather through the period. 
  Both the 30 and 60 day outlooks released May 16 are "very noncommittal" calling
  for near normal temperatures and precipitation in our area. 
 
 Eastern Flower Thrips on Strawberries:  In 1994, a number of strawberry growers
  across the Midwest had serious problems with seedy, tan to brown, tough, hard,
  or rubbery fruit. At that time there was considerable debate about the cause,
  but most people eventually agreed that it was the result of eastern flower
  thrips feeding on the blooms and fruit. Last week we received reports from
  south central and southwest Indiana that moderate numbers (up to 8-10 per
  flower) of thrips had been found. It is the consensus of the fruit
  entomologists in the Midwest, after discussions with entomologists from around
  the country, that 10 thrips per flower is a reasonable threshold. We must
  admit, however, that this threshold is not based on hard data, but is our best
  guess. We would certainly not quibble with any grower who sprayed at 8 thrips
  per flower. However, we all agree that it is important that growers not treat
  during bloom unless they have some evidence that an insecticide spray is
  needed. Our bee colonies are in serious trouble, so we need to protect them as
  much as possible. Reports from central and northern Indiana so far have
  provided no evidence of thrips infestations. So, we strongly recommend that
  growers scout for thrips in their strawberry flowers and confirm that thrips
  are present before applying insecticides. Thiodan appears to be the best
  insecticide choice for thrips control. See ID 169 Indiana Commercial Small
  Fruit & Grape Spray Guide for more information.  Eastern Flower Thrips do not
  overwinter in Indiana, but are carried northward by winds from southern states.
   Recent strong southwest winds may be bringing this pest into the state, so
  growers should be scouting on a regular basis for flower thrips.  
 
 Apple Scab & Collar Rot:  With all the recent rains my thoughts go to apple
  scab, and then to collar rot, and then to fire blight, and then to.... wet
  weather is what makes diseases "happen".  The sterol inhibitor fungicides, Nova
  and Rubigan, should allow you to stay on top of the scab situation.  DonÕt cut
  rates, and donÕt extend spray intervals and you should be okay.  
 	In many areas of the state the ground has been saturated with water over the
  past few weeks.  This is a situation which encourages the development of crown
  rot, collar rot and root rot caused by Phytophthora.   Based on the depth of
  tractor ruts, you can generally tell those parts of the orchard which are
  wetter than others.  Ridomil or Aliette are recommended to treat for
  Phytophthora diseases.  Ridomil may be used on bearing trees but only before
  growth starts or after harvest.  Aliette may be applied up to 14 days to
  harvest.  Ridomil is applied as a drench, while Aliette is sprayed on the
  foliage and transported to the roots.  Of course the best solution is to
  improve drainage in wet sites. 
 
 Fire Blight:  Growers in southern Indiana should be walking their young blocks
  of trees checking for fire blight.  Mid to late May is generally when fire
  blight makes itself known. Look for new growth that appears wilted and crooked
  at the tip with browning and wilting of leaves.  Efforts to limit secondary
  spread by cutting out fire blight strikes are most successful if these strikes
  can be removed immediately after they appear.  Cut out blighted twigs 10 to 12
  inches below any sign of infection, being sure to sterilize pruning tools
  between each cut.  If the infected shoot is associated with the main trunk or a
  major scaffolding limb you may want to try the "ugly stub" cut, deliberately
  leaving a naked 4 inch branch stub above the supporting limb.  Marking the ugly
  stubs with flags or a bright colored paint when the cuts are made can help in
  relocating them during the winter pruning operation.  Maintain good control of
  sucking insects which are primary carriers for secondary spread of blight . 
  Special attention should be given to young trees and trees on M9 and M26
  rootstocks or interstems.  
 
 Disease Monitoring:  In addition to fire blight, growers need to be walking
  their orchards looking for symptoms of apple scab, powdery mildew, and rust. 
  When looking for diseases select those blocks which are most disease
  susceptible.  Ida red, Jonathan, and Romes are "good" trees to inspect for
  disease doings; they are all highly susceptible to scab, blight, mildew and
  rust.
 
 Managing Summer Diseases:  Control of summer diseases of apples needs to be
  considered from petal fall through harvest.  The SI fungicides (Nova, Rubigan,
  Bayleton, and Funginex) are weak for controlling these diseases.  This is one
  of the main reasons we suggest a tank mix of a protectant fungicide with a SI
  after petal fall.  Mancozeb and Polyram are labeled up to 77 days of harvest. 
  Orchards where flyspeck is a perennial problem should be treated with the 3
  lb/A rate of mancozeb or Polyram on a 7 - 10 day interval as long as permitted
  by the label.  
 
 Early Season Grape Disease Control:  The most important time of the season for
  disease control in grapes during the early growth stages.  Grape pathogens
  overwinter on grapevines and vineyard debris and become active between bud
  break and two weeks after bloom.  Spores produced from these overwintering
  structures are the primary inoculum for the new season.  If these primary
  spores cause infections on the new growth, secondary spores can be produced
  throughout the growing season, causing a high level of disease pressure
  whenever environmental conditions are conducive.  Consequently, the early
  season period is the most important time of the year for disease control
  measures.  The major diseases of concern during the early season are black rot,
  Phomopsis cane and leaf spot, downy mildew, and powdery mildew.  
 	When vines are protected from primary infections by a good spray program during
  the early season, or if weather conditions are unfavorable for infection, the
  overwintering inoculum will diminish, no secondary spores will be produced, and
  there will be much less disease pressure during the remainder of the season. 
  The weather conditions this year have been conducive to spore release and
  infection so there is a good chance that primary infections will occur on
  unprotected vines.  Growers should be paying close attention to their spray
  program, applying appropriate materials at recommended rates and getting
  thorough coverage.  The basic rule is: it is much easier to prevent a disease
  outbreak than to stop one in progress. 
 	There are many factors to consider when deciding on a spray strategy, including
  weather conditions, disease history of the vineyard, varietal susceptibility,
  canopy vigor, and so on.  There are two main strategies growers can consider. 
  The first uses the plant growth stage and calendar to determine when and what
  to spray, with little regard to the weather.  This approach works well in most
  situations and is the best approach for beginning growers.  It has been the
  standard approach for most growers for many years.  The second strategy, called
  postinfection spraying, has come about with the advent of newer fungicides,
  called Sterol Inhibitors (SIs), that have the ability to cure an infection once
  an infection period has occurred, but before symptoms develop.  Applications
  are timed based on weather related events.  Weather must be monitored closely
  and sprays applied in response to specific conditions that signal an infection
  period.  Postinfection programs may lead to a reductions in the number of
  sprays applied.
 	In the calendar strategy growers should start disease control measures once new
  growth reaches the 1 to 3 inch stage and continue those measures at 7 to 10 day
  intervals through bloom.  The interval should be relatively short during
  periods of rapid shoot growth and wet weather to keep the new growth protected.
   The period from budbreak through bloom usually lasts about 4 to 6 weeks,
  depending on the weather so 3 to 6 sprays may be required during this time. 
  The early season disease control program should include a broad spectrum
  protectant EBDC fungicide such as mancozeb (Dithane, Penncozeb, etc.) combined
  one of the sterol inhibitor (SI) fungicides (Nova, Bayleton, Rubigan). 
  Mancozeb provides good protection against black rot, Phomopsis and downy
  mildew, but no protection against powdery mildew.  SIs provide excellent
  control of powdery mildew and, in most cases, black rot. (Rubigan is not as
  effective as the others on black rot).  Mancozeb is a broad spectrum fungicide
  that will provide protection for at least 7 days.  It must be on all
  susceptible plant parts before infections occur.  The SIs are systemic,
  protectant, and curative fungicides that give good protection against infection
  for up to 14 days.  Since the SIs provide 14 days of protection, they can be
  used in every other spray if applying on a 7-day schedule.
 	The SIs have the ability to cure infections if applied within 72 hours after
  the infection period has started.  This allows the grower to wait until an
  infection has occurred, then apply a spray to stop the development of the
  disease.  SIs will not burn out the pathogens from existing lesions.  In order
  to follow a postinfection program, growers must have the ability and dedication
  to accurately measure rainfall and maximum and minimum temperatures daily.  In
  a postinfection program, sprays are timed according to the occurrence of an
  infection period.  An infection period for powdery mildew occurs when 0.1 inch
  or more of rainfall occurs and the temperatures are equal to or above 50F. 
  Infection periods for black rot are determined by the number of hours of leaf
  wetness at various temperatures.  See the SpottÕs Chart on page 9 of the 1996
  Indiana Small Fruit & Grape Spray Guide.  In short, approximately nine hours of
  leaf wetness are required for infection to occur at temperatures between 60F
  and 85F.  Once an infection period for either black rot or powdery mildew has
  occurred, an application of SI fungicide must be made within 72 hours after the
  start of the infection period.  The higher labeled rates of Nova (4-5 oz/A) or
  Balyleton (at least 4 oz/A) should be used to insure control.  The first
  application provides 14 days of protection.  There is no need to respond to
  another infection period during that time.  However, once the 14 days is up,
  weather monitoring begins again and an application is made when the next
  infection period occurs.
 	Lots of information is available to growers on disease control in grapes. 
  ID-169, the 1996 Indiana Small Fruit & Grape Spray Guide has recommendations
  for the standard calendar approach to grape disease and insect control, as well
  as comments on postinfection programs and specific diseases.  It also includes
  recommendations for weed control.  The recently published manual Grape IPM in
  the Northeast (NYSIPM No. 211) contains complete descriptions of postinfection
  and traditional approaches to disease and insect control and information on
  weather monitoring equipment.  It also has sections on insect risk assessment,
  weed management, and environmental impact.  See FFF 96-06 for information on
  ordering the Grape IPM manual.
 
 Water Sprouts on Tree Fruit:  Water sprouts should be rubbed off in the next few
  weeks.  There are many benefits to the tree and to the grower in time saved
  pruning in the winter.  A heavy leather glove is tool enough if the sprouts are
  young and not woody.
 
 Fruit  Tree Care:  Apple trees are frequently difficult to get to grow off in
  the first and second year.  Keeping those trees growing well requires water,
  which we have generally had enough or more, fertilizer, and weed control.  It
  is all-important that the trees grow off in the best manner possible in these
  first few years.  Under these wet conditions, weed control may be the most
  important practice needed now.  See ID 168 for suggestions on weed control
  materials and rates.  For the post emergence materials applications should be
  made when weeds or grasses are 4-6 inches tall and growing rapidly.
 	Do not neglect to give trees good care during this early summer period so that
  they do not stop terminal growth.  Usually when terminal growth stops,
  especially on spur type trees, it is stopped for the season and we've lost much
  of the year's growth.
 	The most valuable time that a grower can spend is in training one, two, and
  three year-old trees.  Training of young trees is most important.  The use of
  clothespins to help develop strong crotches and spreaders or rubber bands to
  help in limb placement can pay big dividends.  Keeping your pruners in your
  pocket most of the time will help to bring the trees into production sooner. 
 	Breaking up multiple terminal shoots or leaders on young apple trees that were
  tipped during the dormant season or at planting time will help to concentrate
  growth in one leader.  When these shoots are young they can be broken out, but
  as they get woody, they must be cut out to eliminate tearing of the tissue.  
 	 We found many years ago that limiting dormant pruning on peach, and
  accomplishing tree training by summer pinching of tender shoots maximized the
  early yields on the trees.   
 
 Indiana Winegrowers Guild Summer Meeting and Grape Workshop:  The Indiana
  Winegrowers Guild will hold their summer meeting in conjunction with a Purdue
  Grape & Wine Workshop on June 24 at Huber Orchard & Winery in Starlite,
  Indiana.  The event will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will feature a Guild meeting,
  vineyard tour, and barbecue cookout / potluck dinner.  A small fee will be
  charged to cover the cost of the barbecue dinner.  Each family is asked to
  bring a covered dish to share, and perhaps a bottle of two of wine.  The
  vineyard workshop will focus on canopy management for improved fruitfulness,
  fruit quality, and disease control.  Watch for a flyer in the mail.  Contact
  Bruce Bordelon (765-494-1301), Steve Thomas (800-948-8466), or Dave Gahimer
  (812-877-8227).
 
 Ohio State University Horticulture Field Day:  The Piketon Research and
  Extension Center will host a Field Day on June 18, at 3:00 p.m.  Tours will be
  conducted of research plots and facilities.  Some of the highlights will
  include fertigation studies on peppers, muskmelons, and blueberries.  Tours of
  the small fruit variety trials including blueberries, thornless blackberries,
  fall raspberries, and seedless table grapes will also be featured.  Contact Tom
  Wall (614-289-2071 or 614-292-4900)
 
 Illinois State Horticultural Society Summer Horticulture Field Day:  The
  University of Illinois South Farm in Champaign-Urbana will be the site of the
  Summer Field Day on Thursday, June 27, 1996.  Field tours and presentations
  will include tree fruit, small fruit, and vegetable research with special
  emphasis on techniques to conserve energy.  Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.
  and the program begins at 10:00 a.m.  A two hour workshop will be offered on
  Wednesday, June 26 at 1:00 p.m. for growers interested in learning more about
  how to use the Internet and World Wide Web.  Registration for the Field Day is
  $15 and pre-registration is urged.  The internet workshop is free, but advanced
  registration is required.  Contact Don Naylor, Executive Secretary, I.S.H.S.,
  at 309-828-8929 or e-mail : dhnaylor@heartland.bradley.edu.
 
 
 Facts for Fancy Fruit Available Electronically:  We now have all 1996 issues of
  Facts for Fancy Fruit available through the Horticulture and Plant & Pest
  Diagnostic Clinic worldwide web homepages.  To locate the newsletters on the
  web, go to the Horticulture home page at:
  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/hort.html, select Extension/Outreach, then
  Extension Bulletins and Newletters.  Or you can go directly to the Facts for
  Fancy Fruit Index at http:///www.hort.purdue.edu/fff/fff.html.  To access the
  newsletters from the Virtual Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab homepage at
  http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/ppdl/, select Newsletters, then Facts
  for Fancy Fruit.  
 	In addition, a listserv is set up so you can subscribe and unsubscribe to the
  email version.  To subscribe send a message to almanac@ecn.purdue.edu. Your
  message should consists of this single one-line message: "subscribe FFF_L <your
  name>" without the quote marks.  To unsubscribe follow the same procedure:
  "unsubscribe FFF_L <your name>".  Do not include anything else in the message. 
  Note that the address to subscribe and unsubscribe is not the same as the
  return address for FFF_L.  If you reply to a newsletter message you receive
  from FFF_L, all recipients of the list will get the message.  If you have any
  problems contact me at bb@hort.purdue and IÕll try to help.
 
 
 Coming Meetings/Events:
 
 June 6 --- Eastern Indiana Fruitgrowers Meeting.  CookÕs Orchard near Gas City,
  IN.  Contact Harold Brown  (317-747-7732)
 
 June 7 --- Plant Diagnostic Workshop.  Purdue University ARB 116.  Contact Gail
  Ruhl (765-494-4641) or Jim Chatfield Phone: 330-263-3831.  FAX: 330-263-3667. 
  E-mail: chatfield.1@osu.edu 
 
 June 11 --- Blueberry Growers of Indiana Summer Meeting.  ZylstraÕs Blueberry
  Farm, Demotte, IN.  Contact Kevin Goin (219-896-2283).
 
 June 18 --- Ohio State University Piketon Research and Extension Center
  Horticulture Field Day. 3:00 p.m.  Contact Tom Wall (614-289-2071 or
  614-292-4900)
 
 June 19 --- Southeast Indiana Fruitgrowers Summer Tour. Apple Junction,
  Batesville, IN. Contact Karen Witt (317-647-3511) or John Ewart
  (812-926-1189).
 
 June 20 --- Southwest Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station Viticulture Field
  Day. Mt. Grove, MO. Contact (417-926-4105)
 
 June 21-22 --- Indiana Horticultural Society Summer Meeting. Friday June 21,
  from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tour of Sunacre Orchard, New Carlisle.  Saturday
  June 22, all day meeting at Garwood Orchards, LaPorte.  Program details in this
  issue.  Contact Dick Hayden (765-494-1301).
 
 June 23-25 --- International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association Summer Tour.  Central
  MI.  Contact Dick Hayden (765-494-1301).
 
 June 24--- Indiana Winegrowers Guild Summer Meeting.  Huber Orchard & Winery.
  Starlite, Ind. Contact Bruce Bordelon (765-494-1301), Steve Thomas
  (800-948-8466) or Dave Gahimer (812-877-8227)
 
 June 27--- Illinois Horticultural Society Summer Horticulture Field Day. 
  University of Illinois South Farm, Champaign-Urbana. Contact Don Naylor
  (309-828-8929) or e-mail dhnaylor@heartland.bradley.edu.
 
 June 27 --- Mechanical Raspberry Harvester Demonstration. Dale Stokes Berry Farm
  near Wilmington, Ohio. Contact Tom Wall (614-289-2071) or Dick Funt
  (614-292-8327).
 
 July 16-20 ---  4th International Symposium on Cool Climate Viticulture &
  Enology, Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester NY. Contact William
  Edinger, Dept. of Food Science & Technology, NYS Agricultural Experiment
  Station, Geneva, New York  14456-0462,  Phone:  315-787-2277  Fax: 
  315-787-2397  E-Mail:  TH12@cornell.edu  Check us out on the WEB: 
  http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev/cool-climate/
 
 September 15, 1996 --- Ohio Valley Harvest Festival.  Louisville, KY. Contact
  Roy Ballard (812-948-5470).
 
 Indiana Horticultural Society Summer Meeting
 Garwood Orchards and Sunacre Orchards
 LaPorte county, IN
 June 21-22, 1996
 
 Friday, June 21, 1996
 
 Meet at  Sunacre Orchard,  8711 N 300 E, Rolling Prairie, IN
 2:00 pm 	Assembly and registration
 3:00 pm 	Tour of mature blocks of apples.  Discussion of thinning and other
  production 	practices.
 5:30 pm	Depart for Garwood Orchards home place, 5911 W 50 S, LaPorte.
 6:30 pm	Cookout at Garwood's pavillion provided by Garwoods
 8:00 pm 	Roundtable discussion , Dick Hayden, moderator.
 9:30 pm	Adjourn
 
 Saturday, June 22, 1996
 
 8:00 am	Registration and Coffee & Donuts
 8:30 am	Tour of new variety plantings, Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, Jonagold, Ginger
  Gold.
 10:30 am	Tour of peach plantings and pruning demonstration on newly planted
  trees.
 11:30 am	Return to shed.
 12:00 	Lunch on the grounds - at the Pavillion.
 1:00 pm	IHS business meeting
 2:00 pm	Equipment Demonstration
 3:30 pm	tour of young apple blocks and newly planted blocks on Bud.9 rootstock.
 5:30 pm	Adjourn 
 
 7:00 pm	Dinner at Roscoe's for those staying to go to IDFTA tour in Michigan on
  Sunday - Tuesday.
 												
 Notes: 
 Registration will be $2.00 per family.
 Lunch Saturday will be: Adults $6.00,  Under 12 $3:00, and under 6, no charge.
 The Cookout Friday will be provided courtesy of the Garwoods.
 
 Motel information and a map will be in the next newsletter and in the Hort
  Society Newsletter.
 
 This meeting is sponsored by the Indiana Horticultural Society and the Purdue
  Cooperative Extension Service and is open to anyone that wishes to attend.  
  Membership in the Society is not required.  We do ask that everyone register.
 
 We are trying a new format this year, in that the meeting is being held on the
  weekend.  This is because of the IDFTA meetings being held on the following
  week, and a number of our growers are involved.  We hope that this will meet
  with your approval.  We welcome your feedback on these arrangements.
 
 ****************************************************
 Bruce Bordelon, 1165 Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
  IN 47907-1165, 765/494-1298, e-mail: bb@hort.purdue.edu
 
 Dick Hayden, Professor Emeritus, 1165 Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue University,
  West Lafayette, IN 47907-1165, 765/494-1298, e-mail:
  Dick_Hayden@hort.purdue.edu
 
 Paul Pecknold, 1155 Dept. of Botany & Plant Path., Purdue University, West
  Lafayette, IN 47907-1155, 765/494-4628, e-mail: Pecknold@btny.purdue.edu
 
 Rick Foster, 1158 Dept. of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
  47907-1158, 765/494-9572, e-mail: Rick_Foster@entm.purdue.edu
 
 
 Disclaimer:  Reference to products in this publication is not an endorsement to
  the exclusion of others which may be similar.  Any person using products listed
  in this newsletter assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with
  current label directions of the manufacturer.  
 

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